Microsclerotherapy – Leg Thread Veins (Spider Veins)

Microsclerotherapy is the treatment of spider veins or thread veins in the legs through fine needle injection of a sclerosing liquid. The products that we use for spider vein removal at The London Skin and Hair Clinic is Fibrovein (Sodium tetradecyl sulphate). This treatment is performed by Dermatologist Dr Martin Wade.

Patients will need a consultation initially with our dermatology nurse, in order to assess their suitability for treatment and to be measured for compression stockings.

Multiple treatment sessions may be required for complete removal and most patients can expect at least a 70% improvement in the appearance of their legs. Maximum benefit may not be seen for 3 months and perfection cannot be guaranteed.

While you are lying down on an examination couch, very fine needles are used to inject a solution into the spider veins. This irritates the lining of the vein, causing the two opposing sides to stick together. The number of injections varies from 1-2 to 30 depending on the response of the veins to the therapy and the number of veins requiring treatment.

Patients wear compression stockings following treatment.

Typically the veins look worse for a period of time before they start to look better. Improvement is usually seen in a couple of weeks but 6 – 12 weeks may be needed to show the maximum effect.

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